Gospel Reflection by Martha
Have you ever asked that question and immediately regretted it because the person is giving you more than you bargained for? This is how I imagine the Pharisees’ disciples feel after demanding of Jesus, “Tell us, then, what you think.”
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Weekly Gospel reflection by Martha
“For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?” Matthew 16:26
I thought my reflection would center around one of the other parts of this passage, the pieces quoted more often, such as Jesus’ and Peter’s exchange. Yet I find myself drawn to this verse and how it might play out in my life and in the larger body of Christ, the church universal. This is one of those times where the Spirit is speaking harshly, but words I need to hear. Perhaps you need to hear them too.
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Weekly gospel reflection by Martha
“Who do you say that I am?” Such a powerful question in this week’s gospel passage. Jesus starts by asking for the general understanding of who he is/what he is trying to do. Upon receiving those answers, he then draws the disciples into personal reflection. “Who do you say that I am?”
This question always grabs my attention when the passage is read. It is one of those deep life directing questions if I allow myself time to sit with it and then respond in action. Daily actions. It is not enough to say Jesus is the Son of God. It is not enough to say Jesus is Lord. If I honestly believe these things about Jesus, then my actions and interactions with others need to reflect Christ Jesus’ direction.
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Weekly Gospel reflection by Beth
Peter is impetuous. I can imagine his life before Jesus, sitting on his boat with his brother Andrew as they fished. Peter might have impatiently twisted ropes in his calloused hands or burst out in frustration at a peaceful moment, exclaiming his impatience at having to sit and wait – a skill all fishermen must master. Sometimes his impulsive nature might have brought him success in the markets – a bargain in trading goods or a few extra coins from a hungry Roman soldier – but oftentimes with impulsive personalities Peter might’ve found himself fuming at the repercussions of opening his big mouth once again. Maybe he bickered with a potential customer for his catch of the day, or told off someone trying to get a better price. Ironically, Peter’s birth name “Simon” means “to listen” in Hebrew, something he was pretty terrible at. Imagine his wonder, then, when Jesus christens him “Peter” – another challenging name for the man whose new name means “Rock.” Can a man of thundering outbursts truly be seen as the future stable “rock” of the faith?
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Weekly Gospel Reflection by Martha
There were thousands and thousands of them. It was getting late and all were hungry in a deserted place. Then Jesus says two surprising things. First, “you give them something to eat” and after the disciples tell how little they have to eat themselves, Jesus says his second surprising line, “Bring them here to me”.
We do not know if the disciples gave the food willingly to Jesus or not. I imagine there were several disciples mumbling under their breath and wondering what Jesus could possibly want with their supper as their own stomachs rumbled with hunger. Then again, the disciples had traveled with Jesus long enough to know he had power to do miracles. Perhaps the disciples were filled will curiosity about Jesus’ request. Could he really feed this large crowd with such meager supplies?
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Gospel reflection by Mark.
“But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” (Matthew 11:19)
My Twitter friend, Jon M. Sweeney (@jonmsweeney) tweeted out this week that as Christians, “We’d benefit from an essential Jewish teaching, Pikuach Nefesh, which means saving a human life should take priority over everything, even if and when it means breaking another law in the Torah.” (For reference, Jon is a Christian, his wife is a Rabbi).
The context was a discussion about the reopening of churches and in response to an article from the National Catholic Reporter regarding doing so cautiously. The article ended with the words, “If staying home from Mass means saving lives, then it’s the right thing to do.”
In the midst of our text this week, Jesus holds up the hypocrisy of critics that hit out at himself and John the Baptist. On one hand, John “comes never eating nor drinking.” The response? “He has a demon!” (v18) On the other, Jesus comes eating and drinking. The response? “He’s a drunkard and glutton; friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners’.” (v19)
So what are you to do?
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Gospel reflection by Mark.
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me…” (Matthew 10:40)
Sometimes, Scripture takes us by surprise. It did for me this week. The word ‘welcome’ (or ‘receive’ in some other versions) permeates this week’s passage.
The phrase that stuck was the first five words of the text. My mind began to wander to ways that we can welcome someone as Christ. But I felt ‘nudged’ to go back and read the text again. I realised that I had missed something important. The text is not talking about welcoming others. It’s talking about being welcomed.
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“… and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)
At the core of the message Jesus proclaimed is that he had “come that you might have life; life to the full.” (John 10:10) This life, that would change us and the world around us , comes in the form of Jesus’ central teaching point: the Kingdom of God or, as it sometimes called, the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Kingdom of God is not a place, per se, and has little to do with locality for life after death. Jesus said this Kingdom was near, now, among us, and within you. Put “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of Heaven” into a search and it won’t take you long to see a list of verses where Jesus describes the Kingdom. Mostly, in parables.
Follow these parables and stories and you will see a common theme. Among them is what it takes to enter the Kingdom. In short: to enter the Kingdom of God, you have to be prepared to let go of the ways of the kingdom you are now in.
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Martha's House 